Memorandum for the Record on the Hemlocks Water System

Memorandum for the Record on the Hemlocks Water System

            1.  The system is independent of the local public water system.  It depends on the four nearby sandstone springs to run 24/7/365 which it has for well over a century that I know of. The water comes out of the ground at 54 F, so it does not freeze when exposed to the elements at the source. There is no existing connection between the two systems.

            2. Once spring water is collected and pumped from the hydraulic RAM, the whole system is buried underground and should pump all winter long. The present setup has pumped as such for over 10 years and during the winter time.  The basic pipes are white PVC, which should not rust or debris up for a long time ( like until after 2100). Now in the Compound area, the basic pipe is 1 inch ID black plastic pipe, which should  need replacing sometime sooner than the white PVC water pipes. I would predict replacing the black plastic pipe one summer by 2030.

            3. The stainless steel tank that holds around 4,500 gallons of clean water should deliver water to the compound for at least two weeks on its own. None of this water is treated with chlorine routinely,  but that has not been a problem. Now the water was tested once at Tenn Tech around  year 2000, and water safety at the Hemlocks was better than the local public water. And no one has ever gotten sick from it, like ever.

            4. There is a backup public electric water pumping setup, but that has not been used for 10 years or more, so its reliability is now suspect.  This setup includes another white PVC line setup that crosses with the RAM white PVC setup vicinity where trail to the Cliff Field Pond is, and is further identified by an orange plastic pipe sticking out of the ground.

            5. Both cottages have white PVC plastic plumbing under each cottage. Both cottages have insulated metal skirts around them that have been adequate to keep the pipes from freezing without "dripping"  the lines for at least the last ten years.  Each cottage has its own public electricity powered 40 gallon water heater, also.

            6. The present setup has the clean water sources independent of the other areas used for a possible  cemetery and the septic system.

            7. The waste water system, like where our pee and poop and food debris goes, is gravity powered and both cottages combine to feed one septic tank which then feeds a 360 foot drain field. A map/diagram of this setup can be found in the chest of drawers in the middle room of the main house. Now is a time to remind all that what won't digest in the septic tank should be just deposed of in dump pits, worm pits, etc. And remember, septic tanks need bacteria to dissolve our solids, so be careful about using antibiotic  cleaners and acid things like vinegar. And there is an outhouse at the Cliff Field Pond, and we can also dig other "cat holes", too.

           8.  So the old method of washing our hands with soap and water still works, at least here.